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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Oxygen aborts HA then
        
(Message started by: Scooter on Mar 24^th, 2004, 10:20pm)

Title: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by Scooter on Mar 24^th, 2004, 10:20pm

I have been using oxygen for a long time and it does truly abort the headache, but I keep having to use it over and over. Last night headaches started around 9PM and after twenty minutes it came back again than the process started again this went on till 2AM finally I took two fioricets and they stayed gone. I did not take fioricet at onset of headache because I am worried about their habit forming properties. Is this the way Oxygen effects most people?

Thanks Scooter

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by FZfan on Mar 24^th, 2004, 10:53pm

scooter, are you using a non-rebreather mask/hi flow regulator combination? And if you are, are you continuing to breath the o2 for awhile after the h/a abates? I always continue breathing for at least several minutes. Those are the only two things I can think of, other than the disappointing news for you that there are times when the o2 just doesn't work.

I have had a few nights where I had multiple attacks, but in my case I was still able to knock them down, just had to use a lot of o2.

For the most part, i get complete relief from o2 with no rebounds, but there are occasions when nothing works. Nature of the beast. If the o2 continues to fail you regularly, you may need to look for another abortive, but be absolutely sure you are using the o2 correctly.

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by Scooter on Mar 24^th, 2004, 11:01pm

Thanks Fzhan

My regulator only goes to 8 ltrs Doctor told me to breath at 7 ltrs you might be right it needs to be higher and Iam not sure what a rebreather mask is but I will find out.

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by Tiannia on Mar 24^th, 2004, 11:10pm

on 03/24/04 at 23:01:10, Scooter wrote:

Thanks Fzhan

My regulator only goes to 8 ltrs Doctor told me to breath at 7 ltrs you might be right it needs to be higher and Iam not sure what a rebreather mask is but I will find out.

here is a pic of a non rebreater mask

http://www.allmed.net/catalog/images/items/4168_l.JPG

http://www.allmed.net/catalog/showitem.php/4168

see if you can find one around town or check med supply sites on the web. Some people here might have extra ask around for a good place near you to get one.

PF Wishes to you.
Tia

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by Bob P on Mar 25^th, 2004, 10:50am

Scoot,

O2 does the same for me. It will hold an attack down to a 2 or 3 and may even abort it completely after 10-15 minutes. It usually comes back soon thereafter though.

When I feel an attack starting I take an abortive (cafergot or triptan pill) and slap on the mask. The O2 holds the attack down until the abortive takes over. The HA stays away for a while after that.

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by Superpain on Mar 25^th, 2004, 1:02pm

I hit the tank like a hookah. Much higher than 8 lpm I suspect... Probably more like 15-20 lpm... It knocks ha's out quickly but does not keep them from returning. And at that rate if I have more than 6 or 7 within close proximity of each other it makes my throat kinda sore.
That's ok though, I can handle a sore throat.

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by pubgirl on Mar 25^th, 2004, 1:31pm

Scooter

I'm with the others on this 8l/min does diddly squat for me so I hit it at 12-15 straight away.

If you haven't got a non-rebreather mask, while you try and get one, tape over any holes in the mask with gaffer tape, inhale, take the mask away a little and breath out. Keep doing that while inhaling as heavily as you can.

I also sometimes get 1 rebound attack a while after the first, I'm like Bob, I find if you take a triptan pill (if you can tolerate triptans) when you first use the 02, the triptan then takes out any headaches that may try and get you later on.

Works for me anyway

Wendy

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by FZfan on Mar 25^th, 2004, 5:58pm

on 03/25/04 at 10:50:20, Bob P wrote:

Scoot,

When I feel an attack starting I take an abortive (cafergot or triptan pill) and slap on the mask. The O2 holds the attack down until the abortive takes over. The HA stays away for a while after that.

That's an excellent strategy that I hadn't considered. Im out of cycle now, but next time I will remember this. I've had some mild success with Zomig in the past but it took to damn long to kick in. Never thought about popping one at outset and then hittin' the o2. I'm an idiot! I wonder if that would've helped with the ones I had trouble knocking down with just o2? Well, hopefully I'll have to wait a long, long, long, long, long time before I try that experiment. Thanks, Bob P!

Good advice from Wendy there, too. The homeade non-rebreather, made possible with, what else, duct tape. Good thing to remember if your one-way valves fail ya on the actual non-rebreater mask also.

That's two great tips in this thread. 8)

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by Rock_Lobster on Mar 25^th, 2004, 8:13pm

I do the same thing Bob P does. o2 does not abort for me, but does hold it back until my abort pill/injection kicks in. Also serves to kinda take my focus off the pain a bit.

The mask bothers me when having an HA... like have the face-hugger from Alien on me. I tend to pull the hose out of the mask and do the o2 straight.

Rock

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by Scooter on Mar 25^th, 2004, 9:09pm

Thank all of you guys for the info I really really appreicate it.. Scooter

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by forgetfulnot on Mar 26^th, 2004, 12:52am

One thing I do is after you knock the bitch back a ways with the 8-12 lpm shot of O2 stay at that rate for 5 min or so then reduce the flow to 3-5 lpm and go back to sleep. This helps me with the return or multiple attacks during the night. After a while I normally wake up and shut it off. If your lucky you might get an hour or two more sleep this way.

Lee

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by pubgirl on Mar 26^th, 2004, 2:06am

Just make sure if you do this that you have cut the elastic off the face mask before you use it (you don't need it anyway so cut it off when you first get the mask)

If your oxygen runs out while you are asleep, you could DIE!

Wendy

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by forgetfulnot on Mar 26^th, 2004, 2:40am

on 03/26/04 at 02:06:47, pubgirl wrote:

Wendy Doll, when you cut the flow rate back that much you won't run out so fast. In my case I use an O2 generator for low flow situations like these. Anyway if I start "drowning" inside a O2 mask that fucker is across the room no promblem here.

Lee

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by pubgirl on Mar 26^th, 2004, 4:36am

Not directed at you specifically Lee, it is a warning 02 users need to be aware of.
I, like quite a lot of others use smaller, portable cylinders, and they run out much faster!
And I always go solo when I'm having an attack (spare room) so hubby would be sleeping sweetly oblivious in another room while I died!

W

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by Giuliano on Apr 21^st, 2004, 9:48am

Non -rebreathing mask is the right manner to use it and normally 02 does work in 10-15 minutes..otherwsie no.
A suggestion I did not find here and we have by our Doc in Italy it's the one to breath and put on the mask watching the floor...this helps to grow the quitting effetc!Try it!

Hi
Giuly

Title: Re: Oxygen aborts HA then
Post by randyg2 on Apr 21^st, 2004, 2:04pm

Old news but I have found that super cooling my O2 works faster. This sounds nuts but keeping the tubing and mask in freezer helps to work faser.

I used to have extra lengths of tubing and found if I froze them in block of ice kept the O2 super cool.

Also if you are going to sleep you will need some kind of super moisturizer on your face if you are using a mask and if nasal canula use vasoline around your nostrils as O2 is very caustic [smiley=thumbsup.gif]